Trip into space toy



June 21, 1960 A A. KUDLIK 2,941,333

TRIP INT0 SPACE Toy ATTORNEY United States Patent TRIP INT() SPACE TY Alex Kudlik, 216 9th St., Brooklyn 15, NX.

Filed Feb. 25,1958, Ser. No. 717,436

1 Claim. (Cl. 46-228) This invention relates to amusement devices and, more particularly, to a simulated space toy for children.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a toy for children that will simulate a trip through space, individual manually actuated switches being provided to realistically simulate the actual control of a space ship, and having a visible screen which depicts actual travel through space.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a simulated space ship control panel having a plurality of individually operated switches for simulating the control of a space ship, and which is provided with a visible screen having a strip of simulated space scenes supported adjacent to an enlarged window opening for providing a feeling of realism to a child operating. the unit.

Still a further object of the present invention is to provide a toy of the type described that is extremely simple in construction, eicient in operation, and which can be manufactured in large quantities at a relatively low cost.

All of the foregoing and still further objects and advantages of this invention will become apparent from a study of the following specication, taken in connection with the accompanying drawing, wherein:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a space toy made in accordance with the present invention;

Figure 2 is a perspective view of therear side of the toy shown in Figure l;

Figure 3 is a transverse cross sectional view taken along line 3 3 of Figure l; and

Figure 4 is a schematic circuit diagram of a toy illustrated in Figures 1 to 3.

Referring now to the drawing, and more particularly to Figures l to 3 thereof, a toy 10 for children made in accordance with the present invention is shown to include a main panel board 12 that has a marginal peripheral ange 13 which acts as a shield to reduce the amount of light from the room that falls upon the face of the panel board. A plurality of sets of Window openings 15a, b, c, d, e, f are disposed on the panel board 12, a partition 14 being disposed between each adjacent set so as to isolate each set of window openings. A lamp 16a, b, c, d, e, f is supported behind each such set of window openings for providing illumination therethrough in response to movement of switch control levers 18a, b, c, d, e, f toward an energized position on the front of the panel. It will thus be recognized that as each such switch is moved from the deenergized to an energized position, the respective lamp will illuminate and provide light through the associated set of window openings. Indicia associated with each set of window openings on the front side of the panel suggests the proper sequence of operation of the switches to simulate the actual control of the space ship through space. The actuation of each such switch providing illumination through each said associated set of window openings, thus providing visible effects that further the imaginative thinking of the child.

A motor 22 supported behind the panel 12 has pulley connections 24, 25 to a pair of vertically spaced apart parallel rolls 23 that are supported at opposite sides of an enlarged window opening 27. A strip of flexible maten'al which may be either opaque or transparent is ICC secured at opposite ends to the rolls 23 so as to be transferable from one such roll to the other in response to rotation thereof by the motor 22. This motor 22 is reversable and has a control lever 28 extending outwardly therefrom that is connected to the control bar 29 which is connected at its ends by means of depending arms 30 to predetermined ones of the switch control levers 18a, d. Thus, in response to movement of either one of these switch levers 18a, d, electricity from a supply line 32 may be supplied to the associated lamps and` the motor 22 to effect partial illumination of the panel board and movement of the strip past the window opening.

In actual use, the initial switch lever 18a may be moved toward an energized position to illuminate the first set of window openings 15a and effect movement of the strip 26 past the window opening 27 in a forward direction. The additional switch levers 18b, c can then be actuated to further illuminate the panel. However, in response to actuation of the next control lever 18d, the lamp 16d associated therewith will illuminate the window openings 15d and effect a reversal of the direction of movement of the strip 26 past the window opening. This will simulate the return of the space ship from outer space toward earth, the illustrations on the strip 26 showing the earth becoming larger as the ship approaches the landing, as compared to movement of the strip in the initial position in which the earth appeared to be getting smaller as the ship moved away from the earth. Finally, the other control levers 18e, f can be actuated to further simulate the landing of the space ship as it reaches the earth.

It will now be recognized that an extremely amusing and imaginative toy has been provided for children that is based upon the new space age in which such travel fascinates young and old alike.

While this invention has been described with particular reference to the construction shown in the drawing, it is to be understood that such is not to be construed as imparting limitations upon the invention, which is best defined by the claim appended hereto.

Having thus described my invention, I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent:

A simulated space ship toy comprising, in combination, a main panel, an enlarged cutout in said main panel, an illustrated strip supported behind said panel for longitudinal movement past said enlarged cutout, means for selectively electing said movement vof said strip, said strip comprising a sheet of flexible material, a pair of rollers rotatably supported at opposite sides of said enlarged cutout, each end of said sheet being secured to one of said rollers, said means for moving said strip comprising a reversible motor, pulley means drivingly connecting said motor to one of said rollers, a drive belt drivingly connecting both of said rollers together, energization of said motor being operative to positively drive both of said rollers simultaneously, a plurality of switches mounted upon said panel, and a link connected between predetermined ones of said switches and said motor for energizing said motor for rotation in a selective direction in response to actuation of said predetermined switches.

References Cited in the le of this patent UNlTED STATES PATENTS 1,716,575 Corso June l1, 1929 2,637,129 Congdon May 5, 1953 2,664,665 Rozenoi Jan. 5, 1954 2,671,982 Glover Mar. 16, 1954 2,684,243 Alston July 20, 1954 2,766,538 Iorio Oct. 16, 1956 2,859,656 Lemieux Nov. l1, 1958 

